Mark Thornton Moore

Mark Thornton Moore was born on March 30, 1954, in The Dalles, Ore. to William Thornton Moore Sr. and Jane (Mims) Moore. He passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 58.

The following is a personal recollection of Mark's father, William Thornton Moore. "Mark went to Steven F. Austin College in Nacodoches, Texas and graduated with a BS degree in 1974. When he was in college we paid his expenses but gave him very little extra money for entertainment. So he did manual labor, picking up garbage and trash for the city. It was a tough job but at least it kept him in beer. After graduation he worked several different jobs including being a welder on the nuclear power plant south of Lake Grandbury, Texas. Mark became interested in sewerage and water treatment. He worked and studied in that field and eventually earned the highest level technical classifications in both fields. Mark worked in Colorado Springs where he met and married Denise Elaine Davis. They eventually moved to Cortez where Mark supervised the operation of a new sewage treatment facility that had been having technical problems. He resolved those problems and got the plant operating properly. Mark had a lot of mechanical ability and could fix anything. He and Denise built a beautiful house outside Cortez with a small pond on their acreage. He enjoyed fishing in their pond with their grandchildren, camping and boating. Unfortunately he got prostate cancer at an early age and treated it homeopathically which did not cure the cancer. He retired with 100 percent disability due to prostate cancer in 2010. The cancer had eventually gotten outside his prostate and into his bones. He coped with the problem the best he could while undergoing various medical treatments including radiation and chemotherapy but eventually died in the Cortez hospital after suffering for several weeks. His family was able to visit him during his last days. His loving wife, Denise and younger brother, Bill took care of him in his home for many of his days while he was under hospice care. His was a tragic, slow and painful death which occurred on Dec. 5, 2012. He had enjoyed his family, outdoor recreation and treating water and sewage to improve their quality. His family will miss him greatly but remember him fondly." Mark was a member of the National Rifle Association and he also enjoyed target shooting and riding his motorcycle.

Surviving Mark are his father, William Moore of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his wife, Denise Moore of Cortez; his stepdaughter, Lindsey Giaffoglione and husband Gabe of Colorado Springs; his four grandchildren, Ashlyn, Avery, Abigail, and Logan Giaffoglione all of Colorado Springs; his siblings, William Thornton Moore Jr. and wife Robin, and Donna Schafer both of Colorado Springs.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Jane Moore; and his brother, Steve Moore.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date in Colorado Springs.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Montezuma, P.O. Box 740, Cortez, CO 81321.

Arrangements are being made through Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.